Rotary Welcomes Ralph A. Monaco, Below is his bio:

Ralph A. Monaco, II is a lifelong resident of Raytown, Missouri. He graduated from Rockhurst College in 1978, summa cum laude, with degrees in history and political science. He earned his doctorate degree U.M.K.C. Law School in 1981.  Practicing attorney for nearly 35yrs, and is a Member of the law firm of Monaco, Sanders, Racine, Powell & Reidy, L.C., with offices in Independence and Leawood.

Mr. Monaco has a long-standing record of public service.  He served 4 terms in the Missouri House of Representatives, where he served as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.  Prior to that he was a member of the Raytown School Board, where he formerly served as the President of the School Board.   He currently serves on the Elected Officials Compensation Committee for the City of Raytown, and he is an active member of the Board of Directors of the Three Trials Museum and the Board of Directors of the Jackson County Historical Society, where he is Past President.

He is a well-known living historian and public speaker earning several awards for his historical portrayals/presentations: the Outstanding Service Award from the Jackson County Heritage Programs & Museums, Making History Come Alive Award from the Jackson County Historical Society, Pioneer of Harrodsburg of Kentucky, Lifetime Membership Award in the Raytown Historical Society, the Outstanding Service Award from Jackson County Parks & Recreation, the 2012 John Edwards Literary Award from the Friends of the James Farm, and recipient of the 2013 Jackson County Historical Society Book of the Year.

Mr. Monaco is the author of five books:  The Strange Story of Col. Swope & Dr. Hyde ; Son of a Bandit, Jesse James & The Leeds Gang; Blood on the Street, The Civil War Comes to Jackson County, Missouri, August 1862; Scattered to the Four Winds, General Order No. 11; and Last Hand at Park Manor. Mr. Monaco has produced several educational living history programs: The Murder of Marshal Bugler at the 1859 Jail; The 1866 election of George Caleb Bingham in Independence; the First Battle of Independence Living History Program; Order Number 11, a living history trilogy; the Battle of Westport historical lecture series at the Truman Historic Courthouse; and he has portrayed the lawyer Abram Comingo at Missouri Town 1855 since 1989 as well as providing first person portrayals of various historical figures: Col. Thomas Hutton Swope, George Caleb Bingham, James Slover, a defense attorney for Frank James, and Edgar Allan Poe. He has directed numerous mock retrials: the 1883 trial of Frank James for the Winston Train Robbery, the arraignment of Frank James, the 1910 trial of Dr. Hyde for the alleged murder of Col. Thomas H. Swope, the 1899 Kansas City train robbery trial of Jesse James, Jr., and the 1932 Kansas City “bridge-murder” trial of Myrtle Bennett for the murder of her husband John.

He and his wife Karen live in Raytown, and they have two married daughters, Lindsay and Lisa.